New Delhi
As lakhs of people from the Capital head towards Bihar and other eastern States for Chhath Puja, which will be celebrated from October 25 to 28, New Delhi railway station (NDLS) is operating at full throttle to manage one of its busiest weeks of the year.
With over seven lakh passengers expected to travel, the station has deployed 850 Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel, introduced 12 special trains, and opened a new Yatri Suvidha Kendra (passenger convenience centre) to regulate the festive rush. On a regular day, about 360 RPF personnel will handle a footfall of five lakh people.
“Besides the 31 regular trains, we have special services and will operate additional ‘clone’ trains during rush hour,” said Rakesh Sharma, station manager at NDLS. “Learning from the February stampede, departments have worked tirelessly for over a month to ensure that there is no untoward incident during the festive season,” he said.
To bolster security, RPF personnel from neighbouring States have also been deployed. “We have 65 personnel on each platform and 20 on every foot overbridge to manage crowd flow. There are six entry and four exit gates on the Ajmeri Gate side and three each on the Paharganj side. We are also escorting over 23 trains up to Kanpur to ensure passenger safety,” said Yashwant Singh, Company Commander of the RPF.
Passenger movement to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh has been restricted to platforms 1 and 16, closest to the entry and exit gates, while other platforms will cater to regular services. “Our staff will ensure that passengers use only the designated bridges leading to their platforms,” he said.
‘Monitoring footage’
A mini control room provides a bird’s-eye view of the station, with five RPF personnel monitoring feeds from 297 CCTV cameras. “We can instantly detect crowd build-up and alert nearby staff to disperse it,” said a police officer.
Medical readiness has also been strengthened. Teams of doctors, nurses, and support staff have been stationed at the control room, with first-aid booths across platforms. “We have a comprehensive evacuation plan and will coordinate with nearby hospitals. Ambulances and fire tenders are on standby,” Mr. Singh said.
The newly built Yatri Suvidha Kendra has emerged as a key facility for crowd regulation. Constructed in just 75 days, the spacious hall for passengers is divided into three zones: pre-ticketing, ticketing, and station entry.
“The pre-ticketing zone has drinking water and washroom facilities, including those for persons with disabilities. The ticketing zone houses 20 counters and 25 automated ticket vending machines, each staffed to assist passengers,” said Santosh Kumar, assistant vice-president (projects), DEC, the firm that built the facility.
“This ensures orderly queuing up, reduces congestion, and guarantees a safer, smoother journey for passengers,” he said.
Published – October 23, 2025 01:18 am IST
